Firefighter garment with combination facecloth and moisture barrier

Abstract

A firefighter garment which includes an outer shell, a thermal layer and a combination moisture barrier and facecloth. In the preferred embodiment, the combination moisture barrier and facecloth layer includes a semi-permeable component, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, which is attached to a facecloth material of a high lubricity filament yarn. The semi-permeable component functions as a moisture barrier and the filament yarn component provides a low friction interface between the garment and its wearer, thereby reducing heat stress imposed on the wearer of the garment during firefighting activity. The filament component also functions as a substrate for the moisture barrier. In the preferred embodiment, the thermal liner includes a layer of apertured flame and heat resistant unicellular or closed cell foam which is positioned between the outer shell and the combination moisture barrier and facecloth. The foam also has a substrate of low-friction woven or knit filament material which faces the outer shell to reduce friction between the outer shell and the thermal liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A firefighter garment comprising: a body segment adapted to cover and protect a portion of a wearer's body, said body segment including a combination moisture barrier and facecloth liner, said combination moisture barrier and facecloth liner including, (a) a moisture barrier component including a semi-permeable membrane material; and   (b) a filament fabric component having a relatively high lubricity attached to said moisture barrier component;     said combination moisture barrier and facecloth liner being oriented within said body segment such that said fabric component is an innermost layer of the firefighter garment and is thereby adapted to be immediately adjacent to and facing a wearer of said garment.   
     
     
       2. A method of manufacturing a combination facecloth and moisture barrier for use with a firefighter garment, comprising the steps of: selecting a flame and heat resistant woven or knit filament yarn material;   bonding said filament yarn material to a waterproof, semi-permeable material; and   forming said bonded material to fit within a firefighter garment such that the filament material faces and is immediately adjacent to a wearer of said garment.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said filament material is an aramid fiber. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 wherein said moisture barrier material is coated on said filament material. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein said moisture barrier material is adhesively bonded to said filament material. 
     
     
       6. A garment comprising: a combination moisture barrier and facecloth layer including a component of a moisture barrier material and a fabric component having a surface of relatively high lubricity, wherein said combination moisture barrier and facecloth layer is positioned within said garment such that said fabric component is immediately adjacent to a wearer of said garment.   
     
     
       7. The combination moisture barrier and facecloth layer of claim 6 wherein said fabric component is made of a flame and heat resistant material. 
     
     
       8. The combination moisture barrier and facecloth layer of claim 7 wherein said flame and heat resistant material is an aramid fiber. 
     
     
       9. A method for manufacturing a garment comprising the steps of: providing a body segment portion adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's body;   bonding a fabric component to a component of a moisture barrier material, so as to form a combination moisture barrier and facecloth; and   orienting said combination moisture barrier and facecloth within said body segment such that the fabric material is an innermost layer of the garment and thereby is adapted to face and be immediately adjacent to a wearer of the garment;   wherein said fabric component is an aramid fiber.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein said moisture barrier material is adhesively bonded to said fabric component. 
     
     
       11. A method for manufacturing a garment comprising the steps of: providing a body segment portion adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's body;   bonding a fabric component to a component of a moisture barrier material, so as to form a combination moisture barrier and facecloth; and   orienting said combination moisture barrier and facecloth within said body segment such that the fabric material is an innermost layer of the garment and thereby is adapted to face and be immediately adjacent to a wearer of the garment;   wherein said moisture barrier material is coated on said fabric component.   
     
     
       12. For use with a firefighter garment, a combination moisture barrier and facecloth liner comprising: a moisture barrier component including a semi-permeable membrane material;   a filament fabric component having a relatively high lubricity attached to said moisture barrier component, said fabric component being made of a flame and heat resistant material; and   said combination moisture barrier and facecloth liner being shaped to fit within a firefighter garment such that said fabric component is immediately adjacent to and faces a wearer of said garment.   
     
     
       13. The combination moisture barrier and facecloth component of claim 12 wherein said flame and heat resistant material is an aramid fiber.